please join me in wrking my colleague and -- in welcoming my colleague and friend, the senator from tennessee, honorable lamar alexander. [applause] >> lamar alexander the republican on this joint committee overseeing the inaugural ceremonies. >> mr. president, mr. vice president, ladies and gentlemen the late alex haley, the author of "roots" lived his life by these six words: find the good and praise it. today we pray the american tradition of transferring or reaffirming immense power in the inauguration of the president of the united states. we do this in a peaceful, orderly way. there is no mob. no coup. no insur refresh your -- no sin- this is a moment when all of us will remember. this is a moment that is our most conspicuous and enduring symbol of the american democracy. how remarkable that this has survived for so long in such a complex country, when so much power is at stake. this freedom to vote for our leaders and the restraint to respect the results. last year at mount vernon, a tour guide told me that our first president, george washington, ones posed this question: what is most